Barcelona played host to 3rd Global Sports Forum

Barcelona (CNA).- Sergey Bubka, Oscar Pistrous, Enzo Francescoli, Gemma Mengual, Raï, Didier Drogba and Sandro Rosell, the President of FC Barcelona, were just some of the personalities that took part in the third Global Sports Forum held in Barcelona last week.

One of the sessions that attracted most media attention was the football round table headed by former Uruguayan star Enzo Francescoli’, Brazilian midfielder Raï and Chelsea striker Didier Drogba. Francescoli told CNA that, while FC Barcelona and Real Madrid are “the best teams with the best coaches, Madrid must learn to live with Mourinho”. Raï explained that “Barça inherited the ‘joga bonito’ of Brasil”. As for Mourinho, raï said “he has a more arrogant public attitude than what he is like in private is” and reminded the debate audience that “in front of a microphone we are all actors”.

Olympic projects on show in Barcelona

The Olympic Games played a part in the Global Sports Forum. Dmitri Chernyshenko, one of the CEO members of Sochi 2014 explained that “we know that nothing can escape the risk of terrorism” and hopes the Games will continue to be “‘a barrier to corruption”. Rio 2016 was also presented in Barcelona. The president of the Brazilian Olympic Committee, Carlos Nuzman, told CNA that “Rio will be the example of how a city changes thanks to the Olympic Games”. Enric Truñó, head of the Barcelona 2022 Winter Olympic Games project, also told the Forum that this “is a city and a national project. It is not a governmental project”.

GSFB Awards

Among this year’s Global Sports Forum of Barcelona Awards, the Gold Trophy went to ‘Empowering women of Nepal’. The Community Trophy went to Kick4life – Street Youth Initiative. The Special Recognition Trophy was for the FIFA World Trophy Tour by Coca Cola. Finally, the special award went to Sochi 2014 for its contribution to the revival of volunteerism in Russia.

Jonah Lomu and Mia Hamm, stars of the sports clinics

Both days of the Forum played host to specialist sports clinics. At the Reial Club Tennis Polo former All Black rugby player Jonah Lomu gave a master class. On Friday FC Barcelona played host to a clinic led by US star Mia Hamm, arguably soccer’s greatest female football player. Hamm’s class was attended by more than 35 female players from different Catalan teams.